The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports alleging that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, raised concerns over rising cases of pipeline vandalism during his recent visit to Port Harcourt, describing such claims as misleading and malicious.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, Army Headquarters said its attention was drawn to what it described as an outright misrepresentation of facts regarding the COAS’s visit to the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army at the Port Harcourt Barracks.
The statement specifically faulted a report published by Sahara Reporters with the headline, “Nigerian Army Chief Raises Alarm over Rising Pipeline Vandalism in Niger Delta.”According to the Army, the report should be disregarded, as the COAS did not, at any time, express concern or raise alarm over alleged rising cases of pipeline vandalism.
“For the record, the COAS did not raise any alarm on pipeline vandalism as portrayed in the misleading account,” the statement said.
Colonel Anele explained that during his address to troops on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the 6 Division headquarters in Port Harcourt, Lieutenant General Shaibu emphasised the importance of protecting critical national infrastructure and its positive impact on the nation’s economy.
“Your job here is very key to protecting critical national infrastructure, and once you do that job very well, it will impact positively on the economy of the country,” the COAS was quoted as saying.
The Army Chief urged troops to remain disciplined, committed and dedicated to their mandate, while assuring them that their welfare remained a top priority under his Command Philosophy.
He also disclosed that some challenges raised by commanders, particularly accommodation issues, had already been addressed.“We have approved the construction of additional accommodation, the renovation of certain quarters and the completion of some ongoing projects,” Shaibu said, adding that the measures would help mitigate accommodation challenges within the division.
He further assured personnel that issues relating to the quality of education for their children were also being considered. While responding to questions from journalists during the visit, the COAS explained that the tour was part of his routine operational engagements across army divisions to assess troop welfare and combat readiness.
“Normally, I go round various Divisions to see officers and men, interact with them and ensure their combat readiness. So I am here in the 6 Division area of responsibility for my maiden operational visit to see what the troops are doing, to look at their challenges and see how we can address them headlong,” he said.
He further assured that challenges which could not be resolved immediately would be addressed promptly upon his return to Abuja.
The Army also noted that security parameters on the ground indicate commendable efforts by security agencies in checking oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, leading to improved stability and sustained exploration activities in the oil and gas sector.
The statement warned media organisations against what it described as attempts to “arm-twist narratives” and urged them to verify facts before publishing reports that could undermine ongoing security efforts.
Members of the public were called upon to disregard what the Army termed “subtle but futile attempts” to downplay security gains in the region. At the same time, residents were encouraged to continue providing credible intelligence on the activities of economic saboteurs to security agencies for prompt action.
